Brad Rodu | Smokers can turn to safer smoke-free tobacco products

10:05 PM,
Jan. 18, 2014

Brad Rodu

Written by

Brad Rodu
| Special to The Courier-Journal

Kentucky State Police report that traffic fatalities in 2013 fell to 635 - down 15 percent from the year before and the lowest count since 1947. Lower traffic death rates are due in part to numerous harm reduction measures including seat belts, airbags, antilock brakes, auto frames that absorb impact and cable barriers in interstate medians.

Now it's time for the state to employ harm reduction measures for another scourge that kills 12 times as many Kentuckians: Cigarette smoking.

As the Kentucky legislature examines a statewide smoking ban, commonwealth officials should also endorse ...